Which secondary school subject is the best to teach?

[Thingsgettingstranger]

Dd is 16 and has decided on becoming a secondary school teacher. She's researched a lot and knows it's not just school hours and she will work a few extra hours a day and have to plan in advance, which she's prepared to do.

However she's stuck on what subject to teach. She's currently doing her GCSE's and is predicted A/8 or A*/9 across the board in all subjects (she does English, Maths, sep science, history, PE, French and geography). At sixth form she's taking English Literature, Biology, PE and Maths.

Does anyone know which subjects are good to teach at secondary school? She's not hugely keen on maths but took it at a level because she's exceptionally gifted at it. Does anyone have any insight? TIA.

PE jobs can be hard to come by. I agree with comments regard SLT and extra curricular activities but initially there are many applicants for PE NQT jobs and they are hard fought for.

Maths, English and Sciences (not Biology) are where there are most shortages and jobs. I teach in Maths and we are very valued - while we work hard and expectations are high, we do have flexibility as school do not want to lose core subject staff. English to some extent the same but marking can be an enormous burden.

Once a teacher there are opportunities to swap between subjects but | would think it would be easier to gain employment through Maths and then pick up PE than the other way around. However, I do know a PE teacher who is currently teaching KS3 Maths to enable her to make her next move.

@TheZeppo they love me indeed, so much so that I'm the delegated 1:1 teacher for the kids who need the most support as well as small low ability groups outside of class time. Oh, and also the part-time long term sick leave I'm covering, after school revision club and two days a week, breakfast club supervision!

She should study whatever she enjoys most.
She should be aware that A-level maths (in particular...... not so much with Eng. and I don't know about PE or biology) is very different from GCSE. She may love it. She may hate it. She might do very well, but she might struggle.
Several months in, she will have a better idea which subject(s) she might be interested in at University. Then, when at university, she will be in a better position to decide which (if any, by that point) subjects she would like to teach.
Also keep in mind, the PE staff are always happy to welcome other teachers to take on some teams / training sessions / fun PE sessions as clubs etc., so she could still do some PE even if she teaches another subject. (Or run a Team in a league at weekends, etc., in her favourite sport)

Depending on the course and level of degree they will pay you up to £20,000 tax free to train

That sounds better than it is though. You still have to pay the tuition fees for a 3 year degree and a PGCE.

Labour will scrap tuition fees and the Tories will pay them off for teachers (probably).

She should be able to do teach first

You need to love you subject.

You need to be able to teach it to people who may not be interested in it, have no aptitude or just don't care.

I would suggest she does a degree with a PGCE after so options are open if she wants to leave teaching.

Unless she does a core subject she will be teaching a subject she has not studied,that might be a consideration. Even with a core subject she will have to teach other elements eg there is no such thing as a biology teacher any more, you have to teach science, you can be a biology specialist but you will be teaching other sciences.

I would stay shy away from English, if you look in TES at jobs there are always adverts for English, and English only attracts a £3K bursary so many people want to teach it. I have seen English and Language marking- if you want any sort of life do not be an English teacher.

If she likes PE and Bilology health and social care would be a teaching option, it is not a core subject but just having those A Levels would be an asset.